A system for displaying a virtual image to a user includes a light engine to generate a display light representing the virtual image; a diffractive waveguide to converge a first component light of the generated display light at a first focal distance from an eye of the user, and to converge one or more additional component lights of the generated display light at one or more distinct other focal distances from the eye of the user; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the light engine and configured to modify the virtual image in order to compensate for a perceived distortion of at least one additional component light of the one or more additional component lights.

A method including receiving, by a companion device from an optical display, a distortion information associated with a geometric distortion associated with rendering an image on a display of the optical display, distorting, by the companion device, the image using the distortion information, preprocessing, by the companion device, the distorted image based on compression artifacts, compressing, by the companion device, the distorted image, and communicating, by the companion device, the compressed image to the optical display

Near-to-eye displays within head mounted devices offer both users with and without visual impairments enhanced visual experiences either by improving or augmenting their visual perception. Unless the user directly views the display without intermediate optical elements then the designer must consider chromatic as well as other aberrations. Within the prior art the optical train is either complex through additional corrective elements adding to weight, cost, and size or through image processing. However, real time applications with mobile users require low latency to avoid physical side effects. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide near-to-eye displays mitigating these distortions and chromatic aberrations through pre-distortion based electronic processing techniques in conjunction with design optimization of the optical train with low weight, low volume, low complexity, and low cost. Further, it would be beneficial to exploit consumer grade low cost graphics processing units rather than application specific circuits.

The disclosure relates to augmented reality devices based on a curved waveguide. An augmented reality device is provided. The augmented reality device includes a projection system to project an undistorted image, an input optical compensator located on the path of light rays out-coupled from the projection system, a curved waveguide comprising an input diffractive optical element and an output diffractive optical element. The output diffractive optical element performs the function of an output optical compensator that converts the light beams of a distorted image at the output of the waveguide into parallel light beams to output an undistorted image. Augmented reality glasses comprising an augmented reality device are also proposed. There is provided the ability to project a virtual image without aberrations, distortions and doubling of the image.

The disclosed projector device may include (1) a first monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a first color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration and (2) a second monochromatic emitter array having a plurality of emitters of a second color disposed in a two-dimensional configuration. The first and second monochromatic emitter arrays may be configured to emit images of the first and second colors into a waveguide configuration, and the first color may be different than the second color. Associated display systems and methods are also provided.

A multi-functional diffractive optical element (DOE) for redirecting light into a waveguide and providing higher order aberration correction is described. The multi-functional DOE may be positioned on, connected to, adjacent to, or within a waveguide, and in some examples is positioned at, or near, the exit pupil of the projector lens. In an example, a head-mounted display (HMD) is configured to output artificial reality content, comprising a waveguide configured to receive input light and configured to output the received input light to an eyebox. The HMD further comprises a projector configured to input light into the waveguide, the projector comprising a display, a projection lens, and a multi-functional diffractive optical element (DOE) configured to redirect light from the projector into the waveguide and provide higher order aberration correction of the light from the display.

A system is provided. The system includes a light source configured to emit an infrared light to illuminate an eye of a user. The system includes a grating disposed facing the eye and including a birefringent material film configured with a uniform birefringence lower than or equal to 0.1. The grating is configured to diffract the infrared light reflected from the eye, and transmit a visible light from a real world environment toward the eye, with a diffraction efficiency less than a predetermined threshold. The system includes an optical sensor configured to receive the diffracted infrared light and generate an image of the eye based on the diffracted infrared light.

A display apparatus includes a lightguide for conveying images to a viewing area in a target field-of-view (FOV), and an eye detector for detecting a position of an eye in the viewing area. The lightguide includes a tunable segmented output diffraction grating, each segment for diffracting a portion of the image light to a corresponding segment of the viewing area. A controller is configured to switch to a non-diffracting state those of the segments that are located outside of the target FOV when viewed from the detected eye position.

An optical lens assembly includes an optical lens and a Pancharatnam Berry Phase (“PBP”) element coupled to the optical lens. The PBP element is configured to provide chromatic aberration correction for the optical lens. An Abbe number of the PBP element and an Abbe number of the optical lens have opposite signs.

Various embodiments of waveguide devices are described. A debanding optic may be incorporated into waveguide devices, which may help supply uniform output illumination. Accordingly, various waveguide devices are able to output a substantially flat illumination profile eliminating or mitigating banding effects.